Terminal-head box.



No. 637,894. Patented Nov. 28, I899. H. E. PROCUNIER.

TERMINAL HEAD BOX.

(Application filed Mar. 29, 1899.)

(No Model.)

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

HENRY E. PROCUNIER, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

TERMINAL-HEAD BOX.

SiECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 637,894, dated November 28, 1899.

' Application filed March 29, 1899. Serial No. 710,878. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HENRY E. PROOUNIER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Ohicago, county of Cook, and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Terminal-Head Boxes, which are fully set forth in the following specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part thereof.

The purpose of this invention is to provide an improved inclosure or box for a terminal head of an electric circuit, as a telephone or lighting circuit, of which the terminal heads are customarily mounted on the line-poles and exposed to the exigencies of the weather and require protection from the snow and rain, but which must not be so inclosed as to become unduly heated when exposed to extreme summer heat. 'The requirements of a device for this purpose in order that it may be entirely satisfactory include at least the following particulars, to wit: first, that it may be readily opened to give easy and unobstructed access to the terminal head and all points and terminals therein; second, that doors, slides, covers, and other parts which are movable in order to afford such access shall be constructed with reference to the position in which the box must be mounted that is to say, on the pole in the vicinity of the cross-arm so that the necessary opening movement of said parts shall not be obstructed by the pole, cross-arm, or wire, and, third, that while comparatively free ventilation shall be afforded through the box around the terminal head, so that the latter shall not be exposed to heating from the sun, as would be the case if it were inclosed in a perfectlytight chamber, the terminal head shall nevertheless be thoroughly protected from rain or snow. In my improved box I aim to meet these requirements by'details of construction which are specified in the claims.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a side elevation of an electric line-pole having my improved terminal-head box mounted upon it and provided with the accessory features which will be hereinafter described. Fig. 2 is a front elevation of my improved box, the same being shown open, disclosing the terminal head therein, the opening being effected by elevating the channel-sheath. Fig. 3 is side or edge elevation of the same with the parts in the same position. Fig. 4. is an enlarged section at the lineet at on Fig. 1. Fig. 5 is a plan of a shield used at the lower end. Fig. 6 is a horizontal section at the line 6 6 on Fig. 1.

Referring to the foregoing figures, A represents the line-pole, and B B, &c., the crossarms thereon.

O is a board mounted on the pole for the purpose of affording means of attaching my improved terminal-head box.

D is the back plate of the terminal-head box.

E is the channel-sheath, which is provided with vertical parallel slide-bearings on the back plate, by means of which it is engaged and retained in connection with the latter.

F is the terminal head, secured to the back plate D.

J is a cap or cover for the box. It is formed with a depending flange or curtain J, which encompasses the upper end portion of the back plate D and the slide-sheath E without being attached to either of said parts. The vertical slide bearings and engagements provided on the back plate to guide and retain the channel-sheath E are formed by folding the edges of the back plate forward and inward upon the plate toward each other, and the channel-sheath is provided with flanges suitable for engagement under these inturned flanges of the plate by having the edges of the channel sides folded outward at right angles to such sides, as distinctly seen in Fig. at. The channel-sheath E is open-ended at both top and bottom, so that when it is engaged with the back plate D by its flanges E E being entered under the flanges D D of the back plate it may be moved endwise up or down over the terminal head F, which is mounted on the back plate, such terminal head offering no obstruction to its movement in either direction. For the purpose of securing the sliding channel-sheath E with respect to the back plate D, I form pin-holes d d through the flanges D and back plate D toward the upper and lower ends, respectively, and in corresponding positions I form pin-holes e c on the corresponding flange of the channel-sheath E. It will be understood hat the board 0, on which the back plate D is mounted, is apertured at corresponding points, and I provide a pin G, adapted to be inserted through the holes in the flanges, back plate, and board when either hole in the flange E registers with a hole in the flange D. It will be seen that such registration will occur when the ends of the sheath and plate coincidethat is, when the box may be said to be closedboth holes in the flange of the channel-sheath being in that case registered with the corresponding holes in the flange of the back plate. Also when the channel-sheath is pushed up to the position shown in Figs. 2 and 3 the lower hole 6 will register with the upper hole d, and the pin inserted through said holes at this position of the parts will secure the sheath in elevated position, the box being then openthat is, in such condition that the terminal head is exposed and accessible. Also when the sheath is lowered to the position shown by dotted lines in Fig. 6 the upper holes 6 will be registered with the lower holes (1, and the pin being inserted at such registered holes will secure the sheath in said depressed position, exposing the terminal head for the work of the operator. I have purposely constructed this device so that it may be manipulated by either of these methodsthat is, by sliding the channelsheath to the higher position shown in Figs. 2 and 3 or depressing it to the lower position shown in dotted line in Fig. lbecause in some situations in which the box may be mounted one movement may be preferable, While the other will be preferable in other positions. In order to prevent the operator from accident-ally dropping the sheath when lowering it to the lower position just described, I prefer to provide the stop-pin H, which can be set in the post at a suitable point to arrest the downward movement of the channel-sheath and prevent it from falling even though the operator should fail to insert the pin at the proper point.

J is the cap or cover for my improved box. It is provided with a flange or depending curtain J, extending down several inches in width and encompassing the upper end portion of the back plate D as well as the channel-sheath E. It may be said to be circumscribed about said parts, being shaped so that it fits about or is guided by the vertical lateral edges of the back plate and also the forward corners of the channel-sheath. It is thus adapted to hang upon the top or upper end of both these parts and be retained by whichever of them is more elevated. the box is opened by raising the channelsheath the cover is carried up with such sheath. When it is opened by lowering the channel-sheath, the cap or cover is left hanging upon the upper end of the back plate. It will be observed that the construction described leaves triangular interspaces K K between the depending flange or curtain of the cap or cover and the lateral outer walls of the channel-sheath. It is not material that these interspaces be formed precisely in this man- Thus when ner; but I purposely form the parts so as to leave interspaces between the curtain of the cover and the channel-sheath for the purpose of Ventilation, and to further carry out this purpose I provide free air communication from the interior of the channel to such interspaces outside the same, such communica tion being toward or at the upper end of the channel-sheath. As illustrated this communication is eifected by means of apertures E E in the side walls of the channel-sheath, very near the upper end thereof, so that the air passing freely up through the channel-sheath at the lower end will pass over through such apertures into the interspaces K K and down through them and outward below the lower margin of the depending curtain of the cap or cover. Thus while circulation of air is pro- Vided for the length or width of the curtain or flange J of the cover J is such as to prevent snow or rain being driven up under the curtain through said interspaces and over into the channel, where it mightinterfere with the proper action of the terminal head. For further protection in winter or especially stormy latitudes or seasons the lower end of the channel-sheath is preferably partly closed, but not so as to prevent ventilation. The device for closing it should be easily removable and should not interfere with the longitudinal movements of the channel-sheath when the box is opened by depressing the sheath. For this purpose I provide the plate L, which has a flange Z, turned down at'one edge and secured by screws,which may extend through the back plate into the board 0 near the lower end. The plate L has apertures L and L L the former at the center to admit the inleading cable N and the latter at the side to accommodate the leading-out cables l N. It will be understood that the cables are passed through their respective openings in the shield-plate L before the connections are made with the terminal head, the plate hanging loosely on the cables until the connections are completed and then being pushed up into place and secured by the screws, as described.

P is a platform secured to the pole at suitable position near the lower end of the box to accommodate the operator and make connections with the terminal head. At the edge adjacent to the pole it is provided with a notch or aperture P, through which the channelsheath passes when it is depressed to open by movement in that direction.

It will be noticed that the sliding channel cover or box has great advantages over hinged doors or covers, because the latter cannot be swung around so as to leave the operator clear and unobstructed access to the terminals laterally, as well as in front, especially when the box is mounted against the crossheads and between the wires, as shown in Fig. 1; also, that the twenty inches usually allowed between the wires is inadequate to accommodate swinging doors of a box much over six inches in width; also, that hingejoints cannot easily be made suitably tight against snow and rain, while, on the other hand, the vertical endwise movement of my sliding channel-sheath meets no obstruction and leaves the terminal head completely eX- posed and accessible at all sides, and the slide-bearings, extending; vertically, afford no opportunity for snow or rain to drive into the box.-

I do not limit myself to having the cover, as shown, with a depending curtain and unattached to the back-plate channel; but this construction is advantageous, because it permits the channel to be moved either up or down to give access to the head, and hence I claim, specifically, this construction as the most to be preferred.

I claim 1. An inclosure for an electric terminalhead consisting of a plate on which the terminal head is mounted, and a channel-sheath having lateral slide-bearing engagements with the plate.

2. An inclosure for an electric terminal head consisting of a plate on which the terminal head is mounted, and a channel-sheath having vertical slide-bearing engagements with the plate; and a cover arranged to close the channel at the upper end.

3. An inclosure for an electric terminal head comprising a back plate on which the terminal head is mounted, an open-ended channelsheath having vertical slide-bearing engagement with the plate and a coverhavingadepending flange or curtain which encompasses the upper end of the plate and channelsheath.

4:. An inclosure for an electric terminal head, consisting of a plate on which the terminal head is mounted, an open-ended channelsheath having vertical slide-bearings in the plate,a cover having a depending flange or curtain which encompasses the upper end of the plate and channel-sheath, with interspaces between the channel-walls of the channelsheath, and the flange or curtain of the cap, and with free air communication from the upper end portion of the channel to such intel-spaces.

5. An inclosure foran electric terminal head consisting of a plate on which the terminal head is mounted havinginwardly-turned parallel lateral flanges for vertical guidance, and a channel a sheath having outwardlyturned flanges adapted to be engaged under the flanges of the plate, and a cover or cap having a depending flange or curtain encompass ing the upper end portion of the plate and channel-sheath and inclosing triangular interspaces between said curtain and the lateral Walls of the channel-sheath; free air communication being provided from the interior of the channel to such triangular interspaces.

6. An inclosure for an electric terminal head consisting of a plate on which the terminal head is mounted, an open-ended channelsheath having vertical slide-bearing engagements with the plate; a cover having a depending flange or curtain which encompasses the upper end portion of the plate and channelsheath, which is unattached to said parts and adapted to lodge upon the more elevated por tions thereof.

7. In combination substantially as set forth, a back plate having the inwardly-turned lateral flanges; the channel-sheath having out.- wardly-turned lateral flanges adapted to engage under the flanges of the plate; a cover having a depending flange or curtain encompassing the upper end portion of the plate and channel-sheath, one flange of the plate and the corresponding flange of the channelsheath having pin-holes, one toward the upper end and another toward the lower end, and a: pin adapted to be inserted through such holes in the flange of the plate when registered with the holes in the flange of the sheath, said top and bottom holes being in line parallel with the slide motion of the sheath.

8. In combination with the line-pole, a platform thereon, the terminal-head inclosure mounted on the pole above the platform and comprising a back plate having vertical parallel guideways and a channel-sheath mounted on and retained and guided by such parallel guideways; a cap or cover having a depending flange or curtain encompassing the upper end of the plate and sheath; a platform having an aperture adjacent to the hole adapted to permit the channel-sheath to extend through it, and a stop on the pole to arrest the descent of the sheath.

9. In combination a back plate and the channel-sheath having vertical slide-bearing engagement with the plate, a cap or cover having a depending flange or curtain at the upper end of the plate or sheath, and a shield arranged to be releasably secured to the back plate at the lower end thereof, such shield adapted to pass within the channel of the channel-sheath, and having apertures for the inleading and outleading cables.

10. In combination with the line-pole, the terminal head mounted on the pole and comprising a plate having parallel vertical guideways, and a channel-sheath mounted on the plate and retained and guided by such guideways, and adapted to be depressed longitudinally to uncover the plate, and a stop on the pole to arrest its descent.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand, at Chicago, Illinois, this 27th day of March, 1899.

HENRY E. PROGUNIER.

Witnesses:

CHAS. S. BURTON, JEAN ELLIOTT.

IIS 

